Chick-fil-A, the fast food company known for its pickle brine chicken recipe and donations to anti-LGBTQ+ organizations, announced recently that it will be launching its own streaming platform for game shows and reality TV.
According to Deadline, the fried chicken empire will be expanding into media, as it has been in talks with “major production companies, including some of the studios, to create family-friendly shows, particularly in the unscripted space.” There are also talks of acquiring and licensing content for the new platform. Of the programs, Chick-fil-A hopes to acquire is a game show, NBC’s The Wall, and Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why, Variety reports. Budgets for unscripted content are about $400,000 per half-hour. Chick-fil-A is also considering animation as well as scripted content.
Whatever may be the outcome of this streaming service, the potential for this platform would continue to bolster Chick-fil-A’s religious values. The careers page on the company’s website boasts about the founder’s “biblical principles.” The paragraph includes this quote: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” The company has previously produced and animated series as well, Stories of Evergreen Hills, “A series of animated short films, collectibles, and experiences created by Chick-fil-A®, Stories of Evergreen Hills™ follows a young girl named Sam as she discovers how little acts of kindness can bring people together.”
Regardless of how “good” the chicken is or how your friends might justify eating there, Chick-fil-A remains controversial in queer and trans communities. As far back as 2012, the fast-food company has been at the center of a decade-long crusade against LGBTQ+ rights with the owner, Dan Cathy, remarked he was “guilty as charged” for when asked about Chick-fil-A’s donations to organizations which demonize and harm LGBTQ+ people. In 2019, the company claimed it would cease funding for at least two organizations that promoted conversion therapy practices for queer youth, Salvation Army and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. However, in 2021, Chick-fil-A’s owner was once again caught donating large amounts of money spearheading the derailment of the Equality Act. As of 2024, the Equality Act has still not been passed.
In 2021, Dan Cathy handed over his position as CEO to his son, Andrew Truett Cathy, who reportedly made the donations to the National Christian Charitable Foundation, which attempted to completely squash the Equality Act and reportedly backs anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. The new owner has not made any public statements about his personal feelings about the queer community. However, given the unsavory history this chicken sandwich company leaves in our mouths, one calls into question how a streaming service run by the company would have an impact on the conversation concerning queer lives.
No matter how it’s spun, you can’t separate a business from its owner.
Photo courtesy of social media
